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| Quick quiz |
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Each month I'll give you a new question.
Just reply to this email for the answer.
Mickey Mouse's public debut in November 1928 was in which film?
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| Ask the Agent |
How Do Realtors Find Comps?
In order to present an accurate estimate of your home's value, three main sources will be investigated by our team so we can find home sales that are the best comparable sales, or "comps," to your home.
The most readily available tool is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database that can be searched via parameters that most closely approximate your home's features and amenities.
If a home sells without ever having been on the MLS or has been sold very recently, we can access public records through the local title company and locate other comps that may be similar to your home.
Closings for newly constructed homes often take a while to show up in public records and are often not found on the MLS, so a visit to the new home sales office to request information on closings will also be a
reliable source of comps. |
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| Wire Fraud in Real Estate: How to Protect Yourself |
In a world of scamming via Internet connections and communications, we want to warn you of the wire fraud that could be a product of sending or receiving emails that takes root during the closing process in a real estate transaction where large sums of money are being transferred to consummate home sales.
Once scammers gain access to a real estate agent's or title company's email account, they can deceive home buyers by "forging" emails to falsely convey closing money wiring instructions. If successful in convincing a buyer to send closing funds to an account other than that of the title company's financial institution, the scam won't likely be discovered until the funds cannot be recovered.
It is important to protect yourself from this potentially huge loss of your life savings. Whenever you receive an email from a title company or your agent with
wiring instructions for closing, you always need to call the source to confirm the content of the instructions that you have received. Typically, real estate agents should not be in receipt of wiring instructions because it provides another avenue for potential fraud.
Most title companies protect themselves and their clients by communicating wiring instructions via encrypted email once the buyer calls to ask for those instructions. While nothing is foolproof, email encryption helps assure the secure transfer of closing funds.
We are aware of the perils associated with this part of the closing process and are here to assist you in the verification process. We can direct you to title companies with encryption capabilities. |
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| Are You a First Time Buyer? Get My Free Guide |
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Buying your first home is a big step, and one that is likely to impact your financial future for years to come.
Make it easier by requesting my free guide, "How First-Timers Can Make a Wise Buy."
Just reply to this email and I'll send it right out to you.
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| Giving Back: One Man's Mission to Change the World |
Professional traveler Barton Brooks is as comfortable on the back of an elephant in Laos as he is hiking in Uganda, exploring Dubai's beaches, or spinning prayer wheels in Tibet. Yet there is more to this wanderlust-struck wanderer's worldwide adventures. Wherever he roams, Brooks takes it upon himself to leave the places he visits better than when he arrived.
Brooks's extraordinary career includes volunteering, which involves hands-on work such as digging school toilets, donating clothing, laying bricks, building wells, and planting trees, amongst other endeavors. If something is within Brooks's power to do, he does it. The courageous backpacker is truly being the change he wishes to see in the world.
Inspired by a high-spirited yet needy group of children while vacationing in Cambodia, Brooks decided to trade in his career as a New York real
estate broker for a simpler existence. After leaving his job, he launched a grassroots organization called Global Colors, a small yet mobile grassroots organization that set out to connect travelers with volunteer work.
Establishing a reputation for being able to cut through red tape and bureaucracy, Brooks kicked off the guerrilla aid movement in 2010 with projects geared towards creating immediate, tangible change on the ground, simultaneously teaching individuals, families, and travelers how to do the same in their communities. Whilst he may seem like a single drop in an ocean, Brooks and his tireless efforts have certainly made ripples and waves, proving it only takes a little to change a lot. |
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Wondering What’s Happening in
Your Neighborhood? |
How has the price of your home changed in today's market? How much are other homes in your neighborhood selling for? Do I need a house inspection? These are all critical questions that shouldn't be overlooked when thinking about buying or selling your home.
Whether you're curious about prices in your area, whether it's an excellent time to sell, or just need an expert to answer your questions, I can give you the tools and offer guidance through the entire buying or selling process.
Let me know how I can help by simply calling or emailing to set up a time to connect. I won't waste your time - I'll just give you the honest facts about your home, its value, and what's happening in your neighborhood. |
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| Green Bean Casserole |
| Serves 8 |
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• 1 lb green beans
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 lb sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup crushed potato chips or French fried onions |
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Prepare a large pot of boiling salted water. Blanch green beans about 2 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain and cool in a bowl of ice water. Drain and set aside.
Whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt butter. Add mushrooms, thyme, nutmeg, garlic, and onions. Cook 3-4 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in milk, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and stir in cornstarch mixture until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Stir in green beans.
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle potato chips or fried onions over the top. Bake about 15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. |
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Determining Home Appraisal Value:
7 Contributing Factors |
The valuation of your home will consider a variety of contributing factors. The appraised value will weigh everything from location and demographics to the physical attributes of your home. These are key influences.
1. First is the location. The neighborhood's location value will be relative to its proximity to area schools, amenities, and accessibility to those amenities. A home's location within the neighborhood can add positive value if it is in a cul-de-sac or on a large lot and does not back up to any main roads. Location value is reinforced if surrounding homes are clean, neat, and owner-occupied.
2. Value will be influenced by what upgrades and updates are contributing to making a home more current in quality, energy efficiency, and safety.
3. Appraised value is enhanced when a home has been built in the last 20 years because it
presents a lower risk for needed repairs and has newer amenities.
4. Buyers will pay higher prices when the design of a home is timeless and has good appeal for the majority of buyers.
5. As important as the value of the interior of a home is in the appraisal process, so is the exterior landscaping and overall curb appeal. Landscaping that is easy to care for and complements the home's exterior will yield more value.
6. The value of the number of bedrooms and baths will be of prime importance when comparing to competing sold and listed homes. As the bedroom and bath count goes up, so does the value of the property.
7. The square footage and the efficiency of the floor plan contribute to the value. Finished livable basements add value, but not to the same extent as those living spaces that are above grade.
If you have any questions about home appraisals, call or email us. We are always here to help guide you so you can make the
decisions that are best for your goals. |
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| Share This Newsletter |
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If you find this newsletter helpful or interesting, share it with those you care about.
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| 6 Fun, Easy Ways to Celebrate Holidays over Distance |
Being separated from loved ones during holiday celebrations can leave you feeling blue when you should be feeling warm and content. Thankfully, there are a multitude of ways you can close the distance and inject some much-needed joy into your forthcoming festivities. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Go digital. From Zoom to Skype, various video call platforms allow you to schedule a family get-together in a few simple steps. The ease of a digital event makes it easy to attend, as complex travel arrangements and parking plans fall away, reducing your carbon footprint in the process.
Expand your guest list. Given the above, you'll be able to invite extended family and friends who might not have been able to make a physical event, making proceedings extra special.
Encourage participation. To ensure your guests
don't clock in, "do their time," and clock out, send recipes and teasers ahead of time and ask for their input. It's a great way to keep people invested.
Dress with holiday flair. Make the event immersive by dressing up for your chosen holiday. Better yet, come up with a dress-up theme and get the good times rolling in unconventional garb.
Get gaming. Up the fun factor by orchestrating a virtual scavenger hunt, whodunnit, or quiz. There are dozens of budget-friendly resources online, such as Kahoot , playingcards.io and pogo.com.
Add a song and dance number. Thanks to screen-sharing technology, you can supply a backing track and karaoke-style lyrics to
the budding vocalists in your family. Throw in a dance-off, and you've got a winning event on your hands! |
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| This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale. |
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